Pathfinder 1E [IC] - TIDERULER OF MARAN

[Neurotic]

"It is hard to say. Yes, there are powerful magics that can harm, posess or divine things from a mind at a distance." Marius shrugs, but remains tense watches the druid
"He knows he's taking a risk. The hope is he'll find out something without harm. After all, we defeated powerful, but dragon-like powerful creature. Hopefully it's boss won't be prepared for another mind. We can but wait now."

 

[KahlessNestor]

Underground garden
Night
Round 0

Morgrym perused the burning city and the slaughter before he turned his attention to the approaching serpentman with the staff.

“Vradna… You provided his death, have you not, little creature?” the creature hissed.

Morgrym just shrugged his shoulders noncommittally.

“He sought the Enslaver, the adorned dagger. Do you have it, little creature? If you do, I’m willing to satisfy our desires in order to have it.” The creature slowly approached Morgrym, as the surrounding scenario melted away into darkness once more. He reaches out for the dwarf, attempting to touch him as he approaches. “What say you?”

Morgrym took a step back and raised his battleaxe in warning. “I ain’t got no dagger,” he said truthfully. An’ yeh come any closer, I’m li’ble t’ shave off a couple feet o’ yeh. Noo ‘oo are yeh, an’ wot is it yeh be wantin’ wi’ the dagger?”

[sblock=Actions and Rolls]
Move:
Action:
[/sblock]

[sblock=Ministats]
HP: 39/39 NL: 0
AC: 17 FF: 11 T: 16 (+4 vs Giants)(Barkskin: +2)
CMD: 15 (+2 vs bull rush, trip)
Fort: 7 Ref: 2 Will: 7 (+2 vs poisons, spells, SLA)
Armed: MW Cold Iron Battleaxe
Ammunition: 10/10 bullets
Storm Burst 7/7

Conditions: Barkskin 134/150 rounds (15m); Blur (20% miss chance) 3/20 rounds (2m); Detect Magic 27/30 (3m)

Spells Prepared
0: Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Stabilize
1. Obscuring Mist (Domain), Cure Light Wounds*, Produce Flame, Shillelagh, [Summon Nature’s Ally 1 (Spontaneous)]
2: Fog Cloud (Domain)*, Barkskin,* Flaming Sphere*, [Summon Nature’s Ally II (Spontaneous)]
[/sblock]

 

[Archon Basileus]

Morgrym took a step back and raised his battleaxe in warning. “I ain’t got no dagger,” he said truthfully. An’ yeh come any closer, I’m li’ble t’ shave off a couple feet o’ yeh. Noo ‘oo are yeh, an’ wot is it yeh be wantin’ wi’ the dagger?”

The creature hisses once more, unshaken by the dwarf’s threat.

“The dagger is ours by right! It will return to us, one way or another!” – it approaches even more, ignoring the risen weapon. “You have usurped our birthright, our lands, and now you all shall pay the price for it! Many cities burn tonight, like the one you have just seen! And soon none of you will remain to oppose us!” – the serpent-man swirls around and jumps towards Morgrym, trying to attack, but it gets caught by the axe’s swing right before touching the druid. Everything goes dark as the creature yells curses in a fading voice, promising to find Morgrym and the dagger soon enough.

Morgrym opens his eyes, unshaken, to meet his colleagues once more. A few seconds have elapsed, nothing more.
Arvana looks curiously to him, avid for news.

 

[Archon Basileus]

Morgrym took a step back and raised his battleaxe in warning. “I ain’t got no dagger,” he said truthfully. An’ yeh come any closer, I’m li’ble t’ shave off a couple feet o’ yeh. Noo ‘oo are yeh, an’ wot is it yeh be wantin’ wi’ the dagger?”

The creature hisses once more, unshaken by the dwarf’s threat.

“The dagger is ours by right! It will return to us, one way or another!” – it approaches even more, ignoring the risen weapon. “You have usurped our birthright, our lands, and now you all shall pay the price for it! Many cities burn tonight, like the one you have just seen! And soon none of you will remain to oppose us!” – the serpent-man swirls around and jumps towards Morgrym, trying to attack, but it gets caught by the axe’s swing right before touching the druid. Everything goes dark as the creature yells curses in a fading voice, promising to find Morgrym and the dagger soon enough.

Morgrym opens his eyes, unshaken, to meet his colleagues once more. A few seconds have elapsed, nothing more.
Arvana looks curiously to him, avid for news.
[MENTION=6801450]Trogdor1992[/MENTION] [MENTION=24380]Neurotic[/MENTION] [MENTION=6801311]KahlessNestor[/MENTION] [MENTION=6855130]Jago[/MENTION] [MENTION=87106]MetaVoid[/MENTION]

 

[KahlessNestor]

Underground garden
Night
Round 0

Morgrym blinked, shaking his head a little as the vision clears, and took off the ring. “Serpent-folk,” he said. “Burnin’ a city, wantin’ the dagger. Like the fishies, they seem t’ think it b’longs t’ them. Cuildnae tell where they were at, though.” He held the ring up and gazed at it. “Shuild we keep it?” he wondered. “Dunnae if they can track us wi’ it or no’.”

[sblock=Actions and Rolls]
Move:
Action:
[/sblock]

[sblock=Ministats]
HP: 39/39 NL: 0
AC: 17 FF: 11 T: 16 (+4 vs Giants)(Barkskin: +2)
CMD: 15 (+2 vs bull rush, trip)
Fort: 7 Ref: 2 Will: 7 (+2 vs poisons, spells, SLA)
Armed: MW Cold Iron Battleaxe
Ammunition: 10/10 bullets
Storm Burst 7/7

Conditions: Barkskin 133/150 rounds (15m); Blur (20% miss chance) 2/20 rounds (2m); Detect Magic 26/30 (3m)

Spells Prepared
0: Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Stabilize
1. Obscuring Mist (Domain), Cure Light Wounds*, Produce Flame, Shillelagh, [Summon Nature’s Ally 1 (Spontaneous)]
2: Fog Cloud (Domain)*, Barkskin,* Flaming Sphere*, [Summon Nature’s Ally II (Spontaneous)]
[/sblock]

 

[Archon Basileus]

EVERYONE

“I could only feel its powers gaining form as the ring enveloped your finger, dwarf. It might be a useful tool in the future, should you need to understand your potential enemies. As long as you hold on to it without using its powers, it should be safe to carry it. Still, since you have employed it, your adversary might have an idea of your whereabouts now. I recommend swift action. Rest here, if need be, but take flight to whatever place you need to go. Take your dagger and gather your allies.” – the Gardener’s grip grows lighter as he speaks, apparently reordering the patterns of his woods.

“There’s more, though. In the distance, I feel the conflict bred above has taken larger proportions. The place you came from – it burns and cries. I have opened the passage that will lead you out. It will take you to the dust paths, carved into the stone and leading deeper into the grey desert. As you return to the surface, you’ll be at a safe distance from the conflict that you left behind. The way that brought you all here will be sealed. I will assure no one follows.” – his voice crackles through the air once more.

[You may rest in the garden if you so choose. Also, please present a list of any items you wish to take along that are not already in your possession.]

As the group prepares to depart, the little wood seems to clear out a bit, presenting a sinuous way towards the back of the hall. There, a natural opening can be seen through the rocks, its pavement leading lightly upwards as it goes deeper.

“I wish you luck in your quest, and I hope you find the man you seek. This place will always be here, and for as long as you need, it will always be yours.” – the path seems to glow faintly under the unnatural lights of the garden.

“Remember the seeds, dwarf. And remember your promise.” – the Gardener’s last words echo through the passage as the companions leave the cave behind.

END OF PROLOGUE​

[Final preparations can be done now! Please post any changes, notes and observations now! I will start the next part in the sequence. Thanks for being here, guys! Experience points will be posted at the OOC thread now!]

@Trogdor1992 @Neurotic @KahlessNestor @Jago @MetaVoid

 

[Archon Basileus]

CHAPTER 1 - DAYS OF PROGENY​

MARIUS/MORGRYM

They walked. Out of that crevice in stone, they walked. It was buried so deep no one would have bothered to search. Only Morgrym’s talent for underground mazes guided the companions through thick darkness and overwhelming silence. Sweat and blood dried out over the skin and the strange scents of battle were slowly left behind as the four combatants climbed their way out of the cave. Reynard’s light was dimmed through the way, lost to the deep blackness of the walls. The air was heavy and uncomfortably warm, interrupted by occasional fresh winds that brought a roar of waves braking against stone, deep below.
An hour goes by as the heavy atmosphere sucks the life out of the travelers. Eyelids heavy, their bodies are reanimated by the brief promise of an end to their march. A soft gust of wind at first, it reaches the group as abrasive as the air of the desert. A few more steps and soon enough the trail is colored in silver here and there. Soon enough, vigorous winds reach the companions, and their ascension comes to an end.

Outside, they find themselves surrounded by grey walls, adorned with sharp obsidian protrusions. The floor is covered in thin layers of heavy grey dust. Here and there, clouds of greyness swirl around, carried by vigorous gusts of air. The place is dry, but the hours are fresh, bringing some comfort as the quartet reaches the surface once more.

“Finally…” – Arvana stretches her legs against a stone nearby. She glances around for a few seconds, as if trying to recognize the area. Her eyes stop, fixated upon the hill that houses the entrance they just left. “Sweet Alhedorra…” – the sea goddess is mentioned with a touch of fright.
As the eyes of the other three follow Arvana’s, they meet a staggering image. Over the dark stone, a halo of light can be seen. Above it and against the night skies, a column of smoke rises, hiding the stars here and there. A hint of fire reaches their nostrils as the winds change direction.

Something burns towards Maran. Something big. So big, in fact, that both Marius and Morgrym are under the impression it reaches the northern skies, beyond the mountains they know so well.


[You can move anywhere. Just indicate the square to me. You start at O-22, in a valley between two rocky hills. You may include any other actions you desire while moving, as well as explore each area individually for items, food, water, living beings, and so on. Remember that each square corresponds to roughly 5 miles. Every point marked in the map is known to you all. Particular locations can be included during gameplay.]

HAGADARK

It was a strange affair. Anyone would say so. Hagadark knew the man for a long time, but only recently he went around doing business with Adalous. Truth be told, he wouldn’t even know the man had something of interest to him, especially knowledge. Sure, rich men can get so much so easily. But why would he take an interest in alchemic works to begin with?

Before closing the deal, Hagadark had a chance to browse through the laboratory. Just a sneak pick, mind you, but enough to excite his curiosity. He was sure he could learn a good deal of new tricks if he had time to search those halls, hidden underneath the man’s fortified manor.
And just like that he realized Adalous Dram was more than met the eye.

This alone brought up an astounding mass of questions. For example, why did he live all the way out here, in the Grey Wastes? Why not choose a comfortable kaladrian palace, where things are easier to get? Why not live in Ashir, where all the pleasure money can buy is promptly available? Or maybe Maran, with wide oceans and so many possibilities? These, and other questions, crossed his orc mercenaries’ lips ever since they met their eccentric contractor.
Klutha, the warrior-maiden, had other concerns in her mind though. Being closer to Hagadark, she shared her suspicions openly. Unlikely the others, she understood the ways of the world. While pleasure and comfort might attract regular men, true ambition could only be sated by greater conquests. Such concerns inhabited the hearts of a select few, and she feared Adalous Dram might be one of them.

As the group broke camp and marched into the night, she groomed her concerns. Eventually, she flanked Hagadark and presented her case, apart from the others.

“Suppose for a minute his intentions are not as benign as one would assume…” – she walks, staring at the tip of her boots, as usual. Despite her great stature and considerable strength, the half-orc was always shy in nature. “Why else would he live in the middle of nowhere? Why else would he avoid all contact? He didn’t even negotiate the contract in person! It was that man servant of his, that weird Ben-say… He wouldn’t even escort you through the labs in person! Honestly, alchemist, he can muster power… If not his own, that of others. And yet, he hides! Why?” – she falls silent for a moment, as the group picks up the pace, but soon enough starts again. “And why now? We have just heard of odd behavior from the saurian bands from the mountains. Lizard-men might be easy to dispatch, but if they grow in numbers they might as well surround the manor and tear it to pieces… Margha there said he found tracks all over the place lately, troops up and down the Grey Wastes. Saurians, odrosan, you name it. Who knows what this guy has stepped into… Who knows what he dragged us into…” – Klutha was always the cautious one, almost like a matron for the others.


[The same rules apply. You begin at M-24 and may move wherever you choose. Remember that you have the general direction of your marks’ location. Also, you have quite the entourage. You may travel with the rest of the tribe alongside you, but that will reduce your speed quite a lot – consider that they are not as organized as a fully-trained cohort, for example. If you reduce the group, you may travel at the same speeds they do. Alone it might be even faster, but certainly more dangerous.]

@KahlessNestor @MetaVoid @Neurotic

 

[MetaVoid]

OOC: What would he do with a whole tribe?!

Hagadark takes Margha and her group of hunters and runs forward keeping to south westerly direction, deviating as the terrain takes him, but keeping general direction. The group is slower than usual, he is an alchemist, not a warrior trained to run whole day. But still, his inhuman fortitude keeps him from slowing them down too much.

When shy she-half-orc approaches, he finds his worries echoed in her words. But he alredy went past that and accepted the fact they may be only small part of a larger conflict.
"I know, Margha. But there is nothing we can do about it. We need work. We increase our own power by the work his kind offers. And we can work to prevent the worst if we're in the middle of it. Imagine if he took saurians for this work. And they ran across one of smaller orc tribes living in the mountains. Or human settlements. What would happen? This way, we protect those, we find suitable place for your tribe and get some payment in exchange. He may be shy so he didn't deal with us directly. He may be paranoid. Or he could be changed by his experiments so much he became monstruous and doesn't want it known yet. Or he could be controlled or even dead. It is the nature of ambition and power hunger to reach too far too early for easy path. And it NEVER ends well. Hard path that you thread yourself, you create yourself, that is the only way."

He runs for a minute in silence (except for his panting)
"Look at yourself. Orc women cannot become warriors. And only occasionally shamans. The physical differences in size are too great. Pregnancy in a warrior is crippling. And yet, here you are, leader of your own company. Now if I could teach you to negotiate with humans without fear of judgement or derision, you could do a great things. You just have to realise you're not orc, you're smarter than most. And you're not human. You're something greater than both. I rose up in the world thanks to my smarts, you might rise due your strength or cunning. Everything is your own choice and the obstacles are of your own making."

Several huffs later
"We suspect the mage is into something greater. We have a chance to find out what. Lets take it."

 

[KahlessNestor]

Near Maran
Night
Round 0

OOC: I guess I’ll take the dagger from Reynard, then.

With a shrug, Morgrym pocketed the ring. They could decide what to do with it in the future, but he would be wary of putting it on in the meantime. Then they rested and prepared to set out.

As they traveled up and away from the garden, Morgrym motioned to Reynard. “Give me the dagger. I want t’ keep the lass guessin’ where ‘tis at,” he said. He slipped it into his belt where he could keep a good eye on it. It was a good thing, too, because somewhere along the way they lost Reynard and could not find him.

The emerged into cold desert night, squinting at the brightness. Morgrym turned at Arvanna’s words to see the glow above the city of Maran behind the mountains. “Well, tha’s no’ guid,” Morgrym muttered.

“Sae d’ we know where the Adalous is?” Morgrym asked the others. “Sae we can get rid o’ this dagger?” He pulled it out of the sheath. “We shuild travel as much as we can while ‘tis dark before the heat o’ the sun burns us. I’m foine in the dark. ‘ow ‘bout the rest o’ ye? We need t’ keep our eyes out f’r food an’ water, as well.”

He studied the dagger again to try and determine its properties.

OOC: Since I’m carrying it now, I guess I’ll try and Spellcraft it and know more about it. Spellcraft on dagger: 1D20+6 = [9]+6 = 15

[sblock=Actions and Rolls]
Move:
Action:
[/sblock]

[sblock=Ministats]
HP: 39/39 NL: 0
AC: 17 FF: 11 T: 16 (+4 vs Giants)
CMD: 15 (+2 vs bull rush, trip)
Fort: 7 Ref: 2 Will: 7 (+2 vs poisons, spells, SLA)
Armed: MW Cold Iron Battleaxe
Ammunition: 10/10 bullets
Storm Burst 7/7

Conditions:

Spells Prepared
0: Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Stabilize
1. Obscuring Mist (Domain), Cure Light Wounds, Produce Flame, Endure Elements, [Summon Nature’s Ally 1 (Spontaneous)]
2: Fog Cloud (Domain), Barkskin, Flaming Sphere, [Summon Nature’s Ally II (Spontaneous)]
[/sblock]

 

[Neurotic]

Following the tunnel opened by The Gardener, Marius scouts ahead of the party, just one more shadow among countless numbers of them. The great sword feels strange on his back and it takes some adjustments to his stealth, but soon it is part of his movement.

As they exit and Arvana looks back and Morgrym comments on the plans he responds.
"I'm home in the dark, good, safe, enveloping dark. There are dark thinks afoot."
Marius pads right next to dwarf in an easy gliding step. Looking back toward Maran he frowns, but continues with new thought train.

"Do we know anything about this Adalous fellow? Things like this dagger are dangerous and I would hate to deliver it to some power hungry mage.
- If he intends to use to for research, those snake-dragon things will find him eventually and gods only know what they will use it for. Probably nothing good and we should not deliver the dagger to some oblivious researcher.
- If he intends to travel with it, superb, but for what purpose? And where would it end up?
- Finally, if he intends to enslave others by its power, again we should NOT deliver it to him.
How do we make the distinction?"

He walks for a moment in silence.
"We should walk in the dark as far as we can. We can avoid being seen from afar if we're just another shadow. And find a place to lie low in the brightness. I've expended my energies in the fight with that monster."